Former BBC Chris Denning, who has been charged with 41 child sex offences
Former BBC Chris Denning, who has been charged with 41 child sex offences

A former BBC DJ and Radio 1 colleague of Jimmy Savile is to be charged with 41 sex attacks on young boys.

Chris Denning, 73, was arrested three times by police during an investigation as part of Operation Yewtree. He was held by police in June and September last year, and then again last January.

Now he is to be charged with a number of counts of sexual assault and buggery on boys aged between nine and 16 years old. The alleged crimes all took place between 1967 and 1985.

It is understood none of his alleged offences are connected to Savile.

Baljit Ubhey, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, confirmed news of Denning's charges, saying:

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Christopher Denning, who was initially arrested on 3 June 2013 over allegations of sexual offences. A full file of evidence was passed to the CPS on 6 March 2014.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Denning to be charged with 41 offences, including 34 counts of indecent assault."

"These date from between 1967 and 1985, and relate to 22 male complainants aged between nine and 16 at the time of the alleged offending."

Denning will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.